OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 19, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Robert Francis Vasa of the clergy of the diocese of Lincoln, U.S.A., and vicar general and curia moderator of the same diocese, as bishop of Baker (area 173,013, population 413,900, Catholics 34,811, priests 48, permanent deacons 5, religious 44), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Lincoln in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1976. He succeeds Bishop Thomas John Connolly whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Baker the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. George L. Thomas, vicar general of Seattle (area 64,269, population 4,277,700, Catholics 501,055, priests 328, permanent deacons 86, religious 837), U.S.A., as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Anaconda, U.S.A., in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1976.

NER; RE; NEA;...;...;VASA; CONNOLLY; THOMAS ;VIS;19991119;Word: 140;